Pit bulls received another chance from Animal Village NM

Pilots joined the rescue effort to bring them to Alamogordo

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Supporters welcome returning pitbulls Benny and Eddie as they deplane in Alamogordo after their long journey from North Carolina.

When a seriously emaciated pitbull was left freezing overnight while giving birth to six pupppies outside a New Mexico animal control facility, she probably thought it was over for her.

After supporting the mother called Jessica Rabbit and five of her newborns back to health, all the puppies who survived were adopted. The staff of Animal Village New Mexico thought they were safe, but the staff was wrong.

The state's largest no-kill shelter situated in Alamogordo on U.S. Highway 70, the facility makes a commitment to every pet accepted. Melody Mercer, an AVNM volunteer from Holloman Air Force Base said, "Every pet is family and we never ever give up on them. They are our family forever. When they are in trouble, we get them back."

The couple who adopted the pups in Alamogordo in early 2013, called me as AVNM director on Jan. 20, and casually told me that Eddie and Bennie were chasing every car that moved. I felt like someone kicked me in the gut. Why weren't they safe in a yard, or inside a home. Was this woman, who visited them as babies every week and knew what they had been through, really asking me when someone would be there to pick them up in North Carolina?

We shifted into rescue mode. Overnight I emailed every single city council person and the mayor, left messages for the Lenoir, NC. animal control and police, as well as the sheriff, not knowing if they were inside a city or in the county, but knowing we had to act fast before they were killed on the road.

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A boarding faility was found called All God's Creatures Great and Small, whose owners agreed to board the pups at a major discount. We have an active facebook page and supporter Marti Gates contacted her rescue buddy, who just moved from Holloman to North Carolina. The buddy picked up the brothers from the owner the next day and secured the necessary health certificates, heartwork shots and other tests and vaccinations that they never were given.

Now the boys were safe, but still 1,600 miles away. Storms were knocking out power across the country and thousands of commercial flights were being cancelled. Private planes have limits on distance and on weight. Two 60-pound puppies needed to get into the air.

Animal Village NM co-founder Nancy Berg said, "We had everything going against us, except a rock solid belief that God wants us to protect the amazing animals he sent to love us."

I had read about Jeff Bennett with Pilots N Paws, and felt sure if Berg could speak to him, he might help. Through a third party, a message was delivered and two days later, Bennett called. He was in Florida and couldn't fly the pups. But then he said the words I had been praying to hear, "We're going to make this happen."

Bennett reached out to fellow pilots and PNP coordinators, who reached out to ground transports and boarding facilities and foster homes across the 1,600 plus miles that stood between Eddy Valiant, Benny the Cab and Animal Village NM. He kept his work. He and Pilots N Paws made it happen.

Almost a month from the first phone call from Bennett, the boys flew into White Sands Regional Airport Sunday morning with a new PNP pilot, Kerry Fender, one of many who flew the boys along the way.

Nobody does this work without needing help every step of the way. This is an example of how many people love the blessed animals, who show us what unconditional love looks like every day. The animals I believe God sent us to teach that lesson. I think that when they die, they go to God and give him a report card on every human they were with. I know that everyone, absolutely everyone at Pilots N Paws is going to get a hug and an A plus.

Donations and volunteers for both non-profit 501c3 organizations always are needed and gifts can be made in person, or by mail at 7246 U.S. 54-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310, or at www.AnimalVillageNM.com, and at www.PilotsNPaws.org. Animal Village NM is open for adoptions of former death-row pets from New Mexico municipal facilities at noon, Tuesday through Sunday on U.S. 70 in Alamogordo.